Giverny and Monet’s Garden Half-day trip from Paris in a Small-Group

This day trip will lead you from Paris to the edge of Normandy, where you will visit the idyllic home of Claude Monet. You will travel in style aboard a luxury minibus with one of our expert guides, so you can sit back, relax and make the most of your day.

After a drive out of Paris of just over 1 hour 1/2, arrive in Giverny to visit the stunning home and gardens of Claude Monet one of the most famous 19th century impressionist French Painter. Even though the term ‘impressionism’ already existed, one of Monet’s paintings – impression, sunrise – perfectly summarized the style and start of this painting movement.

Upon arrival you will be taken by your guide to the entrance where your visit of the Gardens and House of Claude Monet will begin. There are several things to see on site:

Claude Monet’s House:

The painter arrives in Giverny in 1883 aged 43 years old. Thanks to the selling of a number of paintings to art merchant Durand-Ruel, he is able to acquire this house where he believes he will be able to ameliorate his work on light and color. During more than 40 years, Monet will transform, develop and enlarge the house. As you enter, you will first discover the reading room or ‘little blue sitting room’ followed by the artist’s first studio where he worked until 1899. You will then proceed to the first floor where the private apartments are located. These include Monet’s bedroom where objects and artwork from Monet’s time are exhibited. There are also reproductions of paintings made by his friends: Cézanne, Renoir, Signac or Caillebote. Then, move on to Alice’s bedroom – Claude Monet’s wife – and end the tour of the upper floor with the last room which was Blanche Monet’s bedroom. You will then return to the ground floor to visit the dining room and kitchen. Here, you will admire Monet’s famous collection of Japanese prints.

The ‘Clos Normand’ Garden:

Monet’s love for gardens came as he visited the gardens of friends as well as with the one he took care of in his previous house of Argenteuil. In Giverny, the artist will model his garden so as to better paint it. In front of the house, his creates the Clos Normand. He starts by removing a number of trees, to Alice’s great despair, then reorganizes the flower beds playing with the colors for his paintings. The flower garden is composed of daffodils, tulips, narcissus, iris, oriental poppies, peonies while the central path is lined with nasturtiums, fragrant roses, cherry and Japanese apricot trees.

The water garden:

By diverting a small river, Monet completely created this water garden. He will contemplate nature for hours especially fond of the reflections of the sky that occur on the water. Deeply inspired by ‘Japonism’ – influence of Japanese art on French Artists and writers – he creates a unique world. A Japanese bridge is built and oriental plants are introduced such as maple trees, Japanese peonies, white lilies, bamboos and Ginkgos Biloba. In 1897, Monet begins to paint the “Nymphéas” series inspired by the water lilies pond, achieving one of his most famous artwork reaching the limit of abstraction.

Today, ten gardeners take care of Giverny gardens all year round.